No problem sanding, in fact pore filling can be achieved by wet sanding with finishes, so it's not necessarily a bad thing. It's true that scraping can give a finer smooth finish, but it's not necessary.

Violin makers use a scraped finish and some construct 'sandpaper' from a plant to prep the surface. Scraping to a finish? Never done it and know only a few who have looked at this as an experimental exercise. Sand to 220/240 for sprayed finishes, finer for 'Tru-oil' style finishes. Try shellac at your peril. You will fuss and fuss with this deceptively 'easy' finish that is anything but, despite what you might read here and in other places.

Violin makers use a scraped finish and some construct 'sandpaper' from a plant to prep the surface. Scraping to a finish? Never done it and know only a fe who have looked at this as an experimental exercise. Sand to 220/240 for sprayed finishes, finer for 'Try-oil' style finishes.

Yeah, Pete, that leads into the whole question of what I will do about finish. The very little I've done tells me that I'd be wise to hire that done. Spraying takes experience plus... I'm considering French polishing at this point. Would 240 do fo that?

"Why is it that you never have time to do it right the first time, but you always have time to do it right the second time??"

When I made my first, a Stewart-MacDonald tenor, I got a recommendation for Timber mate to fill the pores. I don't recall where that recommendation came from, but it worked well. If you decide to use it, try it on scrap wood first.

Yeah, Pete, that leads into the whole question of what I will do about finish. The very little I've done tells me that I'd be wise to hire that done. Spraying takes experience plus... I'm considering French polishing at this point. Would 240 do fo that?

Remember, you don't have to pore fill. I do a pore fill, but it isn't written in stone that all those pores have to be filled... I sand out to 320 and use a shellac finish wet sanding after each 3 coats. You also don't have to get all obsessive and "French polish" to get a nice finish. Put it on thin and expect +12 coats to get there. Safe, non-toxic and actually kind of fun.

From what little I've learned, pore filling is important for high gloss finishes. I don't know anything about finishing beyond polyurethane. I did roller paint my powermatic 65 with an oil whatever it was (enamel? lacquer??). Turned out pretty decent, especially beneath a fine patina of sawdust! Pore filling supports the finish for a better look. What does it do for French polishing?

"Why is it that you never have time to do it right the first time, but you always have time to do it right the second time??"